Local Sports

Fish in the city: State lures urban anglers By Joe Palladino Republican-American

If you didn't make it to a lake, pond, or stream for opening day of the fishing season Saturday, do not worry. There are plenty of fish left. The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection will place more than 700,000 fish in state waterways through the end of May.

So many fish, so little time. But that time is now.

Saturday, the real world turned into a Norman Rockwell painting as countless Connecticut anglers tried to reel in a big catch from the state's 180 lakes and ponds and thousands of miles of rivers.

Connecticut has rivers that provide some of the finest rainbow trout fishing in the nation, such as the West Branch of the Farmington River in Barkhamsted and Riverton. Rugged anglers can fish from their favorite, secret spot throughout the state.

But DEEP also brings the joy of fishing to anglers who cannot trek to remote streams or ponds. For example, in Waterbury's Fulton Park, the pond was stocked with close to 600 trout, said Tim Barry, DEEP's fishery biologist and cold-water coordinator for the western district, based in Harwinton. In May, Barry said, Great Brook Reservoir in Lakewood Park will also be stocked with catfish.

"The plan is to try to stock as many suitable ponds in metropolitan areas as we can find," Barry said. "Some cities, like Waterbury, have been a

See FISH, Page 12B

tremendous success."

This is the seventh season the DEEP stocked Fulton and Lakewood parks. Seven more lakes join the program this year, in New Haven, Bristol, Middletown and New Britain.

"The community around Fulton Park has embraced the plan," Barry said, "and they have had pond cleanups and fishing functions."

The next Fulton Park cleanup day, conducted by the Historic Overlook Neighborhood Association, is May 4.

"The pond is definitely being heavily utilized, which was our hope," Barry said. "A lot of kids in our urban metropolitan areas are now fishing."

Although Barry said the DEEP has not seen an increase in fishing license numbers, there has been a greater awareness of environmental issues.

"That is definitely one of our goals," Barry said. "The results are not always quantifiable, but it certainly is when you see the results at Fulton Park or at Keney Park in Hartford. The difference between what they used to be and what they are now is astonishing."

If you can't enjoy the rustic adventure of fishing out of a country stream, you can at least bring your rod and tackle box on the bus and cast your line at Fulton.

The DEEP and local communities have also tried to make the sport accessible to anglers with mobility issues. There are many inland locations that can accommodate all anglers. One of the easiest spots to fish is on the wooden bridge just above the waterfall at Southford Falls Park in Oxford. It is fully accessible.

"As far as accessibility, it is kind of up to the town," Barry said. "It is something that many communities provide. Keney Park Pond in Hartford, for example, has three ramps that extend into the water."

In 1990, the DEEP sold more than 300,000 licenses for fishing and hunting. That number is now down to less than 200,000, and it is likely to decline even more as young people seek action and adventure via an Xbox or PlayStation rather than in local lakes and streams.

Bringing the sport to urban ponds and accessible areas might help to reverse those numbers.

"The crux of our thinking on the community fishing program is to do the most work where the resources are the best and where we have the most potential," Barry said. "We realize that a lot of people may very well enjoy the sport, but don't have easy access or opportunity to explore that world.

"These areas won't appeal to an avid fly fisherman," Barry added, "but they have great value to people who now have the opportunity to experience the sport."

The main reason the number of fishing (and hunting) licenses is down is because of repeated LARGE increases in fees and reductions in services or benefits. When I started fishing a freshwater resident license was around $4-6, now it's $28, and EVERYONE over 16 is suppose to have one (with a few exceptions such as blind, disabled or over 65). That's a lot of money for someone who only fishes a few days a year, especially kids (too many of which will just lie about their age if caught). My wife used to get one every year until the fee went to $16, after which she and so many others said "not worth it" to go fishing 1-2 days a year. You WERE able to fish in the ocean off CT for free for well over a century, now you have to get a $10 license.

With EVERY increase in hunting and fishing license fees (taxes) more and more people dropped out...and the state wondered why! Way back a hunting/trapping license to cover almost every type of game and method of hunting was around $8-10, Now you have to get a hunting license PLUS separate permits for deer, turkey, pheasant, archery, black powder (muzzle-loading) and trapping, and for each season if more then one (spring and fall), and certain separate ones for public or private land To do all of what I used to be able to do for $10, now costs nearly or over $300. Guess what? I no longer buy most of those extra permits on the outside chance I may get to use them. Then recently the DEMOCRAT controlled legislature double all the fees...but had to rescinded the increase because of mass protests.

In the beginning all such fees went to support the related sports, like stocking fish and game, land acquisition, etc. Then the DEMOCRAT controlled legislature decided to put these fees into the general fund (as they are prone to do with every initially restricted tax or fee), and monies for these various programs were cut significantly! It's become a viscous circle: raise fees, cut spending for the programs, raise fees again, etc. So now sportsmen get far less for their money shelled out for fees then they used to. .And the state again wonders why it sells fewer and fewer licenses and permits every year!

In addition the regulations have become more and more complex, even as to where and when you can fish or hunt and with what for what and how - you almost need a lawyer to interpret them They used to be relatively simple and were published in a thin, pocket size booklet in black and white, which you used mainly to see which lakes and streams were stocked or when a season opened or closed Now at the very least you have to carry the regulations around with you to be certain you're not braking the law in a hundred different ways, and they are full color, the size of a magazine (can't easily fold and put in your pocket) and have advertising. "

" Well said Freepress. That should be the real article. How the state ruined sport fishing in America. I gave up hunting for the same reason. I sold my guns because I was afraid I would be responsible if I went to work and someone stole them and I lived in an apartment. Fees are ridiculous. Maybe they just want to make it a rich person pursuit. It used to be a few bucks, but like you said it is a few hundred bucks in fees just to get a gun you used to be able to get in the mail. Rediculous. Not even worth the trouble. Getting a license is iffy too. I got one this year, but some years I may have took my chances. I bet a lot of people are like, well if I fish once or twice a year what are they going to do take my 7 dollar walmart reel because I failed to pay 30 bucks for a license. Just go to out of the way fishing holes that do not stock for trout. They usually check licenses from where they barely have to get out of their state truck you bought with your tax money to check. Keep that in mind. "

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